Cooking up a storm for copyright reform

DELICIOUS: USQ liaison librarian Lyndelle Gunton joined in the celebrations at USQ Springfield.

The USQ Library could have been mistaken for a modern day bakery with a difference as students and staff were treated to a batch of cakes and biscuits on July 31.

A morning tea was held at USQ Springfield and USQ Ipswich to celebrate the success of the Cooking for Copyright campaign, which led to national copyright reforms.

USQ director (Library Services) Carmel O'Sullivan said the new amendments to the Copyright Act mean libraries, archives, museums and historical societies will soon be able to legally digitise millions of primary source documents, such as diaries, theses, company records, letters and even recipe books.

She said USQ Library supports increasing access to information through campaigns, such as Cooking for Copyright, as these changes will benefit students, researchers and the Australian public.

The Australian Library and Information Association ran the campaign in 2015, during which librarians across Australia cooked digitised vintage recipes to raise awareness of the need to remove perpetual copyright of unpublished works.

Ms O'Sullivan said last month's celebration was an opportunity to demonstrate to students and staff how small but meaningful actions can change legislation.